Florida Cadet's Security Vigilance at Sun 'n Fun Praised

Job well done

A Florida Wing cadet drew praise from local police after noticing and reporting a suspected theft when a vendor removing items from a Sun ‘n Fun air show booth and hangar refused to acknowledge upon being asked to show identification.

Cadet Airman Basic Olivia Evans of the SRQ Composite Squadron reported the suspected theft to Lakeland police and Sun ‘n Fun security, who were able to respond rapidly. 

Assisting Evans were Cadet Capt. Kyle Straubel of the Tennessee Wing’s Dickson County Composite Squadron and Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Sarah Dewey of the Florida Wing’s North Tampa-Lutz Cadet Squadron

Each year, more than 120 Civil Air Patrol volunteers work at the massive air show in Lakeland as flight-line marshals, help oversee parking, work to maintain guest safety on taxiways, and act as door monitors at vendor hangars during event set-up to assure only those with credentials have access.

Cadets who participate as part of the  Florida Wing’s Red Ace Team at Sun ‘n Fun train with their adult counterparts for various duties at the airshow.

“Cadet Evans displayed a high level of proficiency in applying her training in the hangar situation, which goes to show how even younger cadets can win the day in a real-world mission-oriented environment,” said ^1st Lt. Cyrus Gardner, Red Ace deputy commander as well as deputy commander of Florida Wing Group 8.  

“She is a credit to the core values of Civil Air Patrol and to Florida Wing.”
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Maj. Sybrian Castleman
Public Affairs Officer
Florida Wing